Michigan State University baseball opened its Big Ten slate with a series loss at Iowa, winning the opener but dropping the next two. The Hawkeyes’ bats proved too much for the Spartans, outscoring them 25-11 across the series.
Recurring issues continued for MSU, as one or two rough innings derailed promising starts. In Game 1, Iowa posted multiple three-run frames, while Game 2 saw the Hawkeyes explode for six runs in the fifth en route to a 7-3 win.
Head coach Jake Boss Jr. and the Spartans had no answer in Game 3, as Iowa jumped out early with four runs in the first and six more in the second. MSU failed to plate a run, falling 10-0 via mercy rule in seven innings.
After the series finale on Saturday, MSU is now 13-6 with a 1-2 Big Ten mark.
Game one: MSU 12 Iowa 8
MSU hit a season-tying six home runs in Friday’s game one with a season-high 18 hits.
The Spartans controlled most of Game 1, extending their lead to 8-3 in the sixth. However, Iowa capitalized on MSU’s pitching struggles, tying the game at eight and forcing extra innings. In the 11th, sophomore Ryan McKay delivered the decisive blow with a go-ahead home run.
Ace Joseph Dzierva took the mound for MSU, pitching six innings while allowing a season-high three earned runs on eight hits and two walks, striking out five.
Iowa figured out Dzierva better than any team to this point. The Hawkeyes took the lead from the Spartans after a three-run home run in the fourth, just the second long ball Dzierva has let up this season. Dzierva kept the Hakeye scoring in check for the rest of the fourth when he came up with a key strikeout with two on base.
RHP Dominic Pianto came in relief of Dzierva after he let up back-to-back doubles in the top of the seventh. Pianto tossed two innings and started off dominant in the seventh. Even with Iowa creating momentum after the pair of doubles, Pianto forced a line out from Iowa’s Miles Risley. With a runner in scoring position, Pianto then struck out two in a row to halt any more offense. Pianto failed to keep his momentum going in the eighth with a three-run home run to put the Hawkeyes within one.
Graduate transfer Tyler Horvath came into the game in the ninth to shut things down. A costly home run in the ninth with two strikes in the count sent the game to extra innings tied at eight.
Horvath continued in extras allowing just one hit and striking out two. Horvath gave MSU’s offense a chance to regain the lead in the eleventh and they made sure to capitalize.
Both MSU’s Caleb Williams and JT Sokolove couldn’t find the base path picking up two quick outs. Next to the plate was the sophomore, McKay, with a .302 batting average. After taking a pitch for a ball, Mckay sent his pitch over the left field fence for a 9-8 Spartan lead.
MSU then put two more on base before the team’s home run leader, Sam Busch, came to the plate. The East Lansing native hit his second home run of the game, this time a three-run shot to give MSU three insurance runs heading to the bottom of the eleventh.
MSU got the three outs they needed and picked up a meaningful Big Ten win.
"I thought our guys showed great resolve today," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "Conditions were difficult to play in, the wind was howling out, and both teams took advantage of that to a certain degree. We were fortunate to put up a big number in the eleventh inning of game one after losing the lead. So credit them for coming back, and give our guys credit for taking the lead again and winning game one."
Game two: MSU 3 Iowa 7
Junior right-hander Nolan Higgins entered Friday’s nightcap with a 2.18 ERA, but his early-season success didn’t carry over. After four scoreless innings, he walked three consecutive batters in the fifth, forcing MSU to turn to reliever Zach Maxey. Higgins finished with four hits allowed over four innings but issued five walks and failed to record a strikeout.
Maxey struggled to stop the bleeding. He hit Miles Risley with a pitch to force in a run before surrendering five more, including a three-run homer by Jaixen Frost, as Iowa surged ahead.
MSU couldn’t do enough with the bats for the rest of the game. The Spartans showed signs of life in the eighth when McKay sent a two-run shot over the fence followed by a Parker Picot RBI single. That’s all MSU would contribute to the scoring column though, falling in game two 7-3.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
"Game two was more of the same," Boss said. "I think they had a big inning, which we haven't figured out how to quite stop the bleeding yet. But again, to our guys’ credit, we got back into the game, and had some chances there late."
Game three: MSU 0 Iowa 10
Saturday’s series finale marked MSU’s first mercy-rule loss of the season. The Spartans were shut out for the first time while Iowa dominated in every phase.
Freshman Aidan Donovan tried his luck in his first time facing Big Ten Pitching. To this point, Donovan has looked promising with a 1.38 ERA including three scoreless innings of work against UCLA.
Donovan couldn’t find the same rhythm he’s had all season on Saturday. The Orchard Lake St. Mary’s graduate allowed eight earned runs in just 1 1/3 innings of work including eight hits and a walk.
MSU’s Logan Pikur came in with one out in the second and had the same struggles. Pikur lasted just 1/3 innings while giving up two more runs, a walk and a hit by pitch. After two, the Hawkeyes led 10-0 and that tally would last for the rest of the game.
MSU struggled to capitalize on opportunities, putting runners on base in all but one inning yet failing to score. The Spartans stranded 10 baserunners.
MSU looks to bounce back Wednesday, March 19, against in-state opponent Oakland. The Golden Grizzlies enter at 3-17, coming off back-to-back losses to Wright State.
Following Wednesday’s game, MSU heads to Penn State for a three-game weekend series. The Nittany Lions, receiving votes in multiple national polls, recently took two of three from Indiana.
MSU is expected to utilize a bullpen approach Wednesday against Oakland. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
